Fluid seal



ism, i946. c. D. PETERSON ET AL 2,392,753

FLUID SEAL Filed oct'. 12, 1945 Patented Jan. 8, 1946 r .ol-*Fica FLUIDSEAL Carl D. Peterson and (regiert H. Deimel, Toledo, o

Application october 12, l194s, serial No. 505,962 7 claims (o1.28e-'411) This .invention relates toV uid seals for preventing theescape of oil from such apparatus as hydrauiic couplings, and otherhydraulic apparatus including a pump or impeller and a driven member orrunner and driven shaft coaxially with the pump or impeller and therunner. One of the dilculties in obtaining a satisfactory fluid-sealbetween two rotating parts is due to the use of a material for one ofthe sealing means which has a dierent coeilicient of expansion thanother coacting elements used, so that the usual bonding material, glues,etc., will not work for any length of time in bonding these materialstogether. One of the materials for the sealing element or ring isusually carbon, and the other, metal. Carbon does not expand or has alow coeiilcient of expansion. Its tensile strength is low, but itscompression strength is high.

This invention has for its object a seal construction for forming` aneffective long-lived bond between twb elements of the seal, which rotatetogether, but have different coeilicients of expansion, as for instancebetween a carbon sealing ring and a metal backing therefor. The metalbacking or flange or diaphragm and the carbon sealingring haveheretofore been ineifectively bonded together, and one of the objects ofthis invention is a simple bonding ring between the carbon sealingringor its equivalent and the metal backing therefor. v

It further has for its object a unit construction for the seal includingthe sealing ring, the bellows and the bonding ring, and spring meansfor` thrusting the bonding ring axially against a sealing ring on theother of the two relatively rotating parts.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

, In describing this invention, reference is had I to the accompanyingdrawing, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in al1the views.

Figure 1 is a sectional view oi' this sealing unit and contiguous partsincluding the runner and impeller of a hydraulic coupling and the drivenshaft thereof.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view illustrative of either of two springmeans, one of which is usedin the unitary construction, and the other,to force the unitary structure axially.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a slightly modified form ofthe seal.

I and 2 designate, respectively, the impeller and runner of a hydrauliccouplingof any suitable construction, and 3, the output shaft of thecoupling, The impeller and runner constitute, in a general sense, tworelatively rotating parts. 4 designates a metal sealing ring on one ofsaid relatively rotating parts, as the part I, the sealy ing means onthe other of said relatively rotating parts, yas the part I, consistingof aunit and a housing for the unit, which housing with the unit thereinmay be readily applied to the member I to rotate therewith; with theunit shiftable axially of the housing under spring pressure. In fact;the

sealing unit and the housing may be assembled and installed as aunit,

The unit consists of a sealing ring Il of a material having a lowcoeiiicient of expansion, as carbon, a bellows I2 having an internalannular flange or head I3 at'one end,vopposed to one side of the ring`II but spaced therefrom, bonding means between the carbon sealing ringI I and the flange I3 for sealing these opposing surfaces.

against the passage of oil, a, spring I4 within the 'bellows thrustingthe ange I3 against the bonding means, and the bonding means against thesealing ring II, and a retaining ring I5 for holding the parts Il, I2and I4 assembled. vThe retaining means is here shown as a ringchannelshaped in cross section with its side nanges IIB, I 1 formingabutments for the sealingring II and the spring I4. The spring I4thrusts directly against a metal or'steel'washer I8 interposed llietweenthe inner face of the ange I3 and the spring Il.

The bonding-means is a` lsoft metal, as a lead washer I 9 interposedbetween the outer face of the flange I3 and the opposing face of thesealing ring I I. This lead ring forms a bond and entirely vcures thedefect in fluid seals, due to the use of in which it is used, that is,in the housing, which is to be applied to one of the relatively rotatingparts, and means is provided for thrusting this unit axially to keep thesealing ring II thrust under spring tension against the metallic sealingring 4 with which it coacts. 'Ihe'housing consists of tubular orcup-shaped sections 20 and 2| telescoped and secured together, after theunit has been assembled therein. When assembled therein, an outwardlyextending flange 22 at the end of the bellows remote from the inwardlyextending flange I3 abuts ,against the bottom of the tubular cup-shapedsection 2|. The unit is thrust axially by means of the spring 23interposed between the cup-shaped section 2l and a spacer, which thrustsagainst the washer I8. This spacer is angular in cross section. Thespring 23 is here shown as a wave washer. The springs 23 and I4 aresimilar in construction, as illustrated in Figure 2. However, anysuitable springs may be substituted therefor. y

Owing to the unitary construction, the unit may be readily applied inan' annular housing, which in turn may be applied to one of two rotatingelements, and'owing tothe lead sealing ring I9, a permanent bond ismaintained between the carbon sealing ring and the metallic backing orbellows therefor, and owing to the unitary construction, the'entire unitmay be spring-pressed to compensate for wear at the sealing face of lthecarbon sealing ring.

` What we claim is:

l. A fluid seal for mounting in one of two relatively rotating elementsand coacting to form a seal with means on the other of said elements,including a carbon sealing ring, bellows having an internal flange atone end opposed to one side of the sealing ring, a soft metal bondingring between the ange of the bellows'and the sealing ring, a spring forthrusting the flange of the bellows against the bonding ring and thebonding ring against the carbon sealing ring, and means for holding thesealing ring, bellows and spring assembled as a unit, the retainingmeans being in the form of a channel in cros's section having its sideflanges coacting with the carbon lring and the spring respectively, theretaining ring extending axially into the bellows into the interiorthereof and the spring being located within the bellows.

'2.' A fluid seal for mounting in one of two relatively rotatingvelements and coacting to form a seal with means on the other of saidelements,

including a carbon sealing ring, bellows having an internal flange atone end opposed to one side of the sealing ring, a soft metalbondingring between the ange of the bellows and the sealing the sealingring, and resilient means within the housing and thrusting against thesaidiend wall and the unit to shift the unit axially. i

of two relal 4. A uid seal for mounting in one tively rotating elementsand coacting to form a seal with means on'the other of said elements,including a carbon sealing ring, bellows having a flange at one endopposed to one side ofthe sealing ring, aV soft metal bonding ringbetween the ange of the bellows and the sealing ring, a spring forthrusting the flange o f the bellows against the bonding ring and thebonding ring against the carbon sealing ring, and a retaining f ring forholding the sealing ring, bellows, bondagainst the bonding' ring, aspring for thrusting the flange of the bellows against the bonding ringand the bonding ring against.' the carbon sealing ring, and a retainingring for holding the sealing' ring, bellows, bonding ring, and springassembled as a unit, in combination with a housing around thebellowshaving an end wall against which the end of the bellows remotefrom the sealing ring thrusts, and means located within the housing andwithin the bellows for thrusting the unit axially. 3. A fluid seal formounting in one of two relatively rotating elements and coacting to forma seal with means on the other ofv said elements,

including a carbon sealing ring, bellows having i an internal ange atone end opposed'to one side of the sealing ring, means for bonding thesealing ring and the `flange of said bellows, a spring for thrustingsaid flange toward the bonding means,

and means for holding the sealing ring, bellows andspring assembled as'a unit, the last means -being a ring channel shaped in cross sectionand extending axially into the bellows having its sidev seal with meanson4 the other of ing ring, and spring assembled as a unit, incombination with an annular housing h/aving an end wall against whichthe end of the bellows remote from the sealing ring thrusts, and meanslocated within the housing for thrusting the unit axially.

5. A fluid seal for mounting in one of two relativelyrotatingelement's'and coacting to form a seal with means on the other ofsaid elements, including a carbon sealingfring, bellows having a flangeat one end opposed to one side of the sealing ring, a soft metal bondingring between the flange of thebellows and the sealing ring, a spring forthrusting the ange of the bellows ring and the bonding ring against thecarbon sealing ring, and .retaining means for holding the rsealing ring,bellows and spring assembled as a unit, the retaining means being a ringin the form of a channel in cross section having its side angesvcoacting with the carbon ring and the spring respectively, theretaining ring and the spring being located concentric with thebellows.v

6. A fluid seal for mounting in one of `two relatively rotating elementsand coacting to form a including a carbon sealing ring, bellows having aflange at one end 'opposed to one side of the sealing ring, a soft metalbonding ring between the ange of the bellows and the sealing ring.,

a spring for thrusting the flange of the bellowsV against the bondingring and the bonding vring against the carbon sealing ring, andretaining means for holding the sealing ring, bellows and springassembled as a unit, the retaining means being a ring in the form of achannel in cross section having its side flanges coacting with thecarbon ring and the spring respectively, the retainingring andthe springbeing located concentric with the bellows and outside of the bellows.

7*. A fluid seal for mounting in one of two relatively rotating elementsand coacting to form a seal with means on the other of said elements,including a carbon sealing ring, bellows having a flange at one endlopposed to one side of the sealing ring, means for bonding the sealingring and the flange of said bellows, a spring for thrusting said flangetowardthe bonding means, and means for retaining the sealing ring,bellows and spring assembled as a unit, the retaining means being a ringchannel shaped in cross section and extending concentric with thebellows and having its side flanges forming abutments for the sealingring and the spring, and an annular housing for the unit and having anend wall forming an abutment for the end of the bellows remote from thesealing ring, and resilient means within the housing and thrustingagainst the said end .wall and the unit to shift the unit axially.

CARL D. PETERSON. ALBERT H. DEMEL.

said elements,

